What I Think of "Fantastic Four," "The Gift," and "Ricki and the Flash!"

Friday, August 7, 2015, 04:41 PMPosted by Manny

Three big films this weekend, we have the superhero flick “Fantastic Four,” the mystery-thriller “The Gift,” and the musical rom-com “Ricki and the Flash” featuring Meryl Streep. Which one is my pick of the week? Take a look:

Official “Fantastic Four” Synopsis:

FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel's original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy. (C) Fox

Official “The Gift” Synopsis:

Simon and Robyn are a young married couple whose life is going just as planned until a chance encounter with an acquaintance from Simon's high school sends their world into a harrowing tailspin. Simon doesn't recognize Gordo at first, but after a series of uninvited encounters and mysterious gifts prove troubling, a horrifying secret from the past is uncovered after more than 20 years. As Robyn learns the unsettling truth about what happened between Simon and Gordo, she starts to question: how well do we really know the people closest to us, and are past bygones ever really bygones? (C) Styx

Official “Ricki and the Flash” Synopsis:

Three-time Academy Award (R) winner Meryl Streep goes electric and takes on a whole new gig - a hard-rocking singer/guitarist - for Oscar (R)-winning director Jonathan Demme and Academy Award (R)-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody in the uplifting comedy Ricki and the Flash. In a film loaded with music and live performance, Streep stars as Ricki, a guitar heroine who gave up everything for her dream of rock-and-roll stardom, but is now returning home to make things right with her family. Streep stars opposite her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer, who plays her fictional daughter; Rick Springfield, who takes on the role of a Flash member in love with Ricki; and Kevin Kline, who portrays Ricki's long-suffering ex-husband. (C) Tristar

"Vacation" or "Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation" this Weekend? See My Pick of the Week!

Friday, July 31, 2015, 02:40 PMPosted by Manny

Two big sequels for you this weekend namely “Vacation” and “Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation.” In “Vacation,” Ed Helms steps into the role of Rusty Griswold, all grown-up with a dysfunctional family of his own. And he wants to take his wife (Christina Applegate) and two kids (the meek and mild James and the vulgar and funny Kevin) to the place where it all began, Walley World!

In “Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation,” Tom Cruise returns to the role of Ethan Hunt but this time, he must face the Syndicate and its rogue agents and skilled assassins. This one’s directed by Oscar winner Christopher McQuarrie (wrote “The Usual Suspects,” worked with Cruise in “Jack Reacher”).

So which one is my pick of the week? Take a look!

Official “Vacation” Synopsis:

Ed Helms stars in the New Line Cinema reboot of the Vacation film series as Rusty Griswald, the son of Chevy Chase's iconic character of the original four films. Horrible Bosses' helmers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein write and direct. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Official “Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation” Synopsis:

With the IMF disbanded, and Ethan (Tom Cruise) out in the cold, the team now faces off against a network of highly skilled special agents, the Syndicate. These highly trained operatives are hellbent on creating a new world order through an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with disavowed British agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), who may or may not be a member of this rogue nation, as the group faces their most impossible mission yet.

"Pixels," "Southpaw," or "Paper Towns?" Which One Are You Seeing This Weekend?

Friday, July 24, 2015, 02:11 PMPosted by Manny

Three big movies for you this weekend! First, we have “Pixels!” Yup, another Adam Sandler movie! Is this on par (ahem) with other Sandler films, or can this jumpstart the comedian’s almost “game over” career? We also have “Southpaw” starring Jake Gyllenhaal. This boxing drama is from “Training Day” director Antoine Fuqua. Gyllenhaal famously buffed up for his role as boxer Billy Hope. And then we have a new movie based on a work from "The Fault in Our Stars" author, John Green, called "Paper Towns."

It’s being called the next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but is “Ant-Man” worth your time and money? To be honest, I was a bit nervous when Edgar Wright (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz,” “The World’s End”) left production using the good old “creative differences” excuse. And then, Peyton Reed, the guy who gave us “Bring It On” (memorable) and “The Break-Up” (forgettable), entered the picture which made me more nervous. And then I saw Paul Rudd in it…

Here’s the official synopsis of “Ant-Man”

The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings a founding member of The Avengers to the big screen for the first time with Marvel Studios' "Ant-Man." Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world. -- (C) Marvel

Minions attack theaters near you and they are ready to dominate the world BUT, is their movie worth seeing? See my movie review of “Minions” below:

Here’s the official “Minions” synopsis:

The story of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's Minions begins at the dawn of time. Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, perpetually serving the most despicable of masters. Continuously unsuccessful at keeping these masters-from T. rex to Napoleon-the Minions find themselves without someone to serve and fall into a deep depression. But one Minion named Kevin has a plan, and he-alongside teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob-ventures out into the world to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow. The trio embarks upon a thrilling journey that ultimately leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Academy Award (R) winner Sandra Bullock), the world's first-ever female super-villain. They travel from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind...from annihilation. (c) Universal